Fluid clock



May 8, 1945.

FLUID CLOCK 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 22, 1942 I By WW 5m May 8, 1945.

P. M AULIFFE FLUID CLOCK Filed July 22, 1942 I5 Sheets-Sheet 2 InventorPairzch M flwl ffe Wave; 3%?

May 8, 1945. P. MQAULIFFE I 2,375,568

' FLUID CLOCK Filed July 22, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Inventor My MPatented May 8, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I 2,375,568-

FLUID: 01.001: 7 Patrick McAulifie, New York, N. Y. Application July 22,1942; Serial No'. 451,911 Claims. (CL 58'-2) This invention relates tonew and useful improvements in fluid clocks such as are operated bywater or any other desirable liquid.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide afl'uidclock whichwill operate with 1 precision and which in constructionemploys only the basis elements necessary in a liquid clock, with theseelements assembled in such a manner as to be more positive acting andfool-proof than conventional devices of this character.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent tothe reader of the follow ing description. I

In the drawings- Figure 1 represents a front elevational view of theclockv Figure 2 is a top plan view.

Figure 3 is a section On the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the line4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary detailed sectional view taken substantiallyon' the line 55 of Figure 4 and showing the drive ratchet.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a rigid but yieldablymounted liquid drop operated arm. l

Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals designate like parts, itcan be seen that numeral 5 denotes a housing having a front wall a inwhich is an opening through which a clock dial 6 is visible. At the rearof the clock dial 6 is a shell 1 containing a 12 to 1 ratio gear drivemechanism A. A shaft 8 carrying a minute hand 9 and driven by the pawland ratchet mechanism partially shown in Figure 5, drives the mechanismA and, in turn, a hollow shaft 8a on the shaft 8, the hollow shaft beingprovided with an hour hand I 0.

The shaft 8 has a ratchet wheel II thereon with which engagediametrically opposed pawls I2, I3 on side portions 1), b of a driveframe I4 which has an elongated shank I5 terminating in an eye I6loosely embracing an elongated curved spring arm I1 having its upper endanchored as at I8 to the back wall 0 of the housing 5. A U- shaped stopmember I9 embraces the spring arm Il to limit movement thereof and isattached to the rear wall 0.

Stop members, such as pins 20 are provided on the spring arm IT to limitthe position of the eye I6 thereon.

A small pan-like structure 2I is at the lower end of the spring arm I1and overliesthe upper flared end 22 of a stack 23, which opens at itslower end into a liquid receiving chamber724*havinga drain p1ug'25. Asis shown in Figure 3, the cylindrical shell l of the clock is mounted onlegs 23 supportedby'the top wall of the com partment 24.

Upon the removable top wall llof the housing5is mounted a liquid tank 28from'which a conduit 29 extends downwardly and through an opening in'thetop 21. This conduit 29'extends horizontally under the cover or top 21and into a spout 30 where it is providedwith a T-fit ting 3I'l-l'avingits discharge end d depending as shown in Figure 3'. This fitting 3|contains a valve'element controlle'd'by a rod 32 extending beyond thespout 30 and through an Opening in one end wall'of the housing v5, wherea hand knob 33 is provided.

The conduit 29 adjacent the tank 28 has a valve 34 therein controlled bya rod 35 extending to a convenient lateral position.

It can now be seen, that when the valve in the T-fitting 3| has beenproperly regulated by the rod 32 so that periodic drops e of liquid willdischarge therefrom, these drops will fall onto the pan-like structure2|, causing flexing of the spring arm I1 and corresponding action of thedrive frame I, with the result that the pivotal pawls I2, I3 act on theratchet wheel II and cause progressive rotation of the shaft 8 which, inturn, drives the minute and hour hands 9, III.

A modification of the spring arm I1 is shown in Figure 6, this viewshowing a rigid arm Ila havinga pan-like structure 2Ia at its lower end,while its upper end is disposed through openings 35, 36 in concentricrings 31, 38, respectively, and through an opening in a bridge member 39within the ring 38, beyond which the rigid arm Ila has a head 4|]. Theinternal ring 38 is secured to the external ring 31 by spokes M, 42, anda coiled compression spring 41 is interposed between the outer ring 31and the arm Ila within the confines of the ring 38, the spring 41extending through an opening in the ring 38. Thus it can be seen, thatthe arm Ila is not only springsupported but adequately guided by theshort slots 35, 3B in the rings 31, 38. The shank I5 of the drive frameI4 is associated with this arm Ila in the same manner.

While the foregoing specification sets forth the invention i specificterms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, sizeand materials may be resorted to without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

l. A liquid clock comprising a liquid supply tank having a conduitextending therefrom, a valve in the conduit having a discharge openingfrom which liquid can drop, a yieldable arm having a pan-like structureonto which the drops of liquid can drop and effect movement of the arm,a clock dial, an indicating arm for the dial, a shaft for the arm, anddrive means between the yieldable arm and the shaft, said drive meanscomprising a frame carrying a pair of opposite pivotal pawls and aratchet wheel on the shaft located within the confines of the frame andwith which the pawls engage.

2. A liquid clock comprising a liquid supply tank having a conduitextending therefrom, a valve in the conduit having a discharge openingfrom which liquid can drop, a yieldable arm having a pan-like structureonto which the drops of liquid can drop and effect movement of the arm,a clock dial, an indicating arm for the dial, a shaft for the arm, anddrive means between the yieldable arm and the shaft, said yieldable armbeing in the form of a spring having one end anchored.

3. A liquid clock comprising a liquid supply tank having a conduitextending therefrom, a valve in the conduit having a discharge openingfrom which liquid can drop, a yieldable arm having a pan-like structureonto which the drops of liquid can drop and effect movement of the arm,a clock dial, an indicating arm for the dial, a shaft for the arm, anddrive means between the yieldable arm and the shaft, said yieldable armcomprising an elongated rigid member having said pan-like structure atone end, and a compression spring supporting the other end of the arm.

4. A liquid clock comprising a liquid supply tank having a conduitextending therefrom, a valve in the conduit having a discharge openingfrom which liquid can drop, a yieldable arm having a pan-like structureonto which the drops of liquid can drop and eifect movement of the arm,a clock dial, an indicating arm for the dial, I

a shaft for the arm, and drive means between the yieldable arm and theshaft, said yieldable arm comprising an elongated rigid member havingsaid pan-like structure at on end, and a compression spring supportingthe other end of the arm, and guide means for said rigid arm.

5. A liquid clock comprising a liquid supply tank having a conduitextending therefrom, a valve in the conduit having a discharge openingfrom which liquid can drop, a yieldable arm having a pan-like structureonto which the drops of liquid can drop and effect movement of the arm,a clock dial, an indicating arm for the dial, a shaft for the arm, anddrive means between the yieldable arm and the shaft, said yieldable armcomprising an elongated rigid member having said pan-like structure atone end, and a compression spring supporting the other end of the arm,and guide means for said rigid arm, said guide means comprising anannulus having a short slot therein through which the arm is disposedand a second annulus having an opening therein through which the arm isdisposed, said spring disposed between the last-mentioned ring and thearm.

PATRICK MCAULIFFE.

